Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

EVENTS

Romney’s WTF Statement of the Day

David Plouffe recently said that Mitt Romney is the “godfather” of the health care reform bill — which is true, by the way — and Romney is still scrambling to explain why the very idea he supported as governor is now a socialist plot to destroy the country. And he gave this really weird answer to that question on the Hugh Hewitt radio show:

Hewitt: Yesterday, the president’s campaign manager said that you are the godfather of Obamacare … if that’s who you are, can you make the Democrats an offer they can’t refuse to repeal it?

Romney: (laughing) That’s a great idea. We counted, by the way, that Mr. Plouffe is the Rumpelstiltskin of trying to turn straw into gold. He will not be successful. I can tell you one thing. If I’m the godfather of this thing, then it gives me the right to kill it.

See here’s the problem with Romney being the Godfather of anything: Mormons like to get married in Mormon temples, and only other Mormons in good standing are allowed in — so how are you supposed to ask him for a favor on the day of his daughter’s wedding?!?

Mittens couldn’t organise a orgy in a cathouse.
And even if he could manage somehow to arrange the participants to be in the same joint at the same time, the only stiff thing in the place would be his dialogue.

See here’s the problem with Romney being the Godfather of anything: Mormons like to get married in Mormon temples, and only other Mormons in good standing are allowed in — so how are you supposed to ask him for a favor on the day of his daughter’s wedding?!?

Just to pick a nit – Mittens and the former Ann Davies have only sons, so it’s sort of a moot point.

OTOH, I think we have to be concerned about an alleged public servant who fails to understand the concept that legislation is voted on by a legislature and, once signed into law by a sitting President, cannot be undone without another piece of, you know, legislation. So, whether Mr. Romney takes credit or blame for his attempt to act like a progressive in Massachusetts, he has no “right” to do anything, even if elected, without Congress.

(aside: Sr. Catherine Kelley – RIP – would be so proud of me for remembering all that government stuff she taught us).

Here I thought that being a godfather just meant I had to cough up an extra fifty bucks on my godchild’s birthday. But now with the threat of death hanging over his head, he should at least be better behaved on sleepovers.

Robomormon and his minions are leaving no gaffe unspoken in their campaign to lose the Republican nomination, but are still failing: Real Clear Politics shows Romney’s percentage in national polls rising persistently if unevenly from a low point of below 20% in September to near 40% now. He’s ahead in most of the remaining states that have been polled recently. So barring some absolute disaster, he’s the candidate. But will any of his rivals, or anyone else, take up the Tea Party banner and split the Republican vote?

OTOH, how about a Romney-Santorum ticket? They clearly dislike each other, but I don’t get the impression it’s as visceral as Gingrich and Romney, or for that matter Kennedy and Johnson. It would have the potential to enthuse the wingnuts, while reassuring some fools in the soggy centre.

I think a Romney/Santorum ticket would be a big mistake. Santorum has way too many negatives. Yes, it energizes the wingnuts — just like Palin did — but you lose way too many women voters. Not to mention his Google problem (and on that note, please don’t use the words “santorum” and “soggy” in the same comment anymore, okay people?)

Ideally you want somebody who is a theocratic wingnut, but one that most of the frothy middle hasn’t heard of yet.